Yes, it has been a long time. Lots of things have been going on. Jennifer and Alan are here for a few days and we leave this week to go to Michigan for another wedding. I'm looking forward to going to the upper part of Michigan as I have never been there before.

When I get back I have a neurologist's appointment. I'm anxious to see him to talk about some issues I've been dealing with lately and talk to him about my balance issues as well. Then I have to get serious about sticking to my diet more closely and exercising more routinely. I've fallen into a rut lately -- and I definitely have to get out of it!!!!

We bought a Wii. We haven't played with it much but with Alan and Jennifer here we have started with the Wii fit game. It is very interesting -- but it is hard for me to do because you have to multi-task -- that's hard for me to do. But, I guess it will be challenging for me because it will tax my brain some! Hopefully, I can get better!

More when I return -- everyone have a great Labor Day weekend.

This week was hard for me. I was so totally exhausted that I think I slept most of the week away. I tried to play golf with Ralph on Thursday, but had skip many holes because I was too tired and couldn't concentrate. I'm feeling a little better but still need some rest.

Thanks to all of those that have sent emails and notes about the wedding. It was a beautiful day and I was truly grateful to my friends and family for coming and helping me through the weekend.

Jennifer and Alan are now honeymooning in Costa Rica. They have found a place to live in Washington DC and will be moving the first part of September.

In a few weeks, Ralph and I will be leaving to go to Michigan for a friend's wedding. I'm looking forward to that trip as it will be a part of the country that I haven't seen before. A true vacation I hope.

More soon.

The wedding is over!

And it was lovely. Here are a few photos. More when I have rested!

Wedding Week

The last several days have been spent sleeping. Traveling takes a lot out of me these days. My awful trip back (as mentioned below) did not help matters much. The day I was coming back the delay in my flight was long in Chicago and then when I got to Atlanta the airport was wall to wall people because of the delays in Atlanta. I started having panic attacks because of all of the people and I could not get out of that airport fast enough. I was almost running through the airport to get out of there. I thought about trying to go into a rest room or somewhere where there weren't as many people and try to calm down, but I couldn't find anywhere where there weren't a lot of people! I thought if I could just get out to the shuttle bus where they can get me to my car I'll be fine. I got out there fast although it seemed like an eternity. I finally got my heart rate down and started to relax. It was raining a little but I didn't care. I then got in my car to come home and there was a major accident on the major interstate I was coming home on. While that didn't bother me too much, I was tired and I just wanted to get home. Obviously I made it home -- but it really takes the fun out of traveling!

We are getting into wedding mode here at the house. My brother-in-law from St. Louis comes in on Wednesday and Alan will be home. That is going to be four people in the house as opposed to our usual two. I've told my husband already how hard that is going to be on me and that I need my quiet time and I need his help. It's way too much confusion to have that many people in the house for me, let alone clean and cook. I know my brother-in-law will understand when I just have to go into a room and shut the door for quiet time. By week's end we will be staying at a hotel in Atlanta for the wedding and it will be easier for me to escape. I really enjoy having company and seeing people, but it isn't like it used to be. I get so tired so quickly and I'm not myself. I hate this!!!!

Chicago

After a very very long trip yesterday I'm finally home from Chicago. Between thunderstorms in Chicago and Atlanta and a very large car crash blocking traffic in Atlanta it was a long day. More about that later.

I was in Chicago for the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease. Over 5,000 people from around the world were there -- it was pretty impressive. They are all trying to find a cure for this disease. That's encouraging. Of course, most of the sessions were so technical they were way over my head, but I hung in there for a few of them. There are some exciting things in the pipeline -- it will just take years for the drugs to make it through our complicated process of clinical trials and the FDA. I have to keep in my thoughts that there will be a breakthrough of some significance in the next ten years or so.

Thanks to the BBC for their remarkable five part series on Alzheimer's this week. I have had lots of comments on the show. They filmed my story while I was in Washington in May for the Public Policy forum and it ran on Tuesday of this last week. Here is the link if you missed it. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7532226.stm On the page that this comes up on you will also find links to the other stories that ran. It was a powerful series in all.

There was a lot of press last week on Alzheimer's with the conference going on. And, Memory Walk commercials were running last week as well. If you want more information on the conference you can get it at www.alz.org. I will be writing more once I am rested.

On the Go

I'm off to Atlanta in a few hours for a meeting there. And, next week I have meetings in Atlanta and Chicago so I will be gone most of the week. The week after that is THE wedding. Then I will probably collapse and rest for a few weeks!

A lot of events have taken place this summer with graduations and weddings. I haven't had much time to reflect on them, but as I do think about them, I wonder when those events will be a long lost memory for me. It's kind of weird to think of it like that, but what will I remember in the years to come of those events? It's anyone's guess I suppose. The words "living in the moment" seem appropriate at times like this. These events will be memories for some, but most likely not for me. Enjoy the time you have with loved ones!

I noticed on the traffic on this site that I have had a few people in the armed forces looking at my blog. My friend Josh is now serving "over there" and I hope it is he that is reading. If it is, we miss you a lot Josh and our prayers are with you to remain safe. That goes for everyone "over there" not just Josh.

Won't have much time to write until I return from Chicago next week. Alan takes the bar next week so everyone cross your fingers for him.

It's been busy here. Alan and Jennifer are back in Georgia. Alan is spending time back and forth between here and Atlanta. He was here for several days this week leaving the house full of laughter but also a mess! It's always good to have him home though. He is studying for the bar so we tried not to bother him too much. Some close friends held a shower this past weekend for them and it was a lovely event. There were about 25 people there and we enjoyed visiting with everyone.

The latest issue of the Georgia chapter's newsletter is out. Our trip to Washington DC is chronicled in there. The web address is http://www.alz.org/georgia/documents/Summer08.pdf

August 3rd the PBS channels will be showing the show "The Forgetting". If you haven't seen this before it is worth watching. It is based on the book by David Shenk and chronicles some families that have been living with this disease in their family as well as some of the technical aspects of the disease. It came out several years ago but it is worth seeing again. I'll also update you as we get closer to the BBC America series on Alzheimer's which is going to run at the end of the month. It will be on the BBC America newshour at 7:00 p.m. eastern time (check your local listings). It is a four part series dealing with Alzheimer's around the world. It starts on July 28th.

Pictured above are 11 members of our National Early Stage Advisory Group I wrote about below. This photo was taken when we were all in Washington in May.

A month or so I wrote about Jim Nantz' book, Always By My Side. After reading it, I wrote Mr. Nantz a note thanking him for sharing his story about his father who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1995. A few weeks ago, on June 28th, Jim Nantz' father passed away. Today, I received a note from him thanking me for my letter -- that's a pretty class act. Please read this book if you get a chance -- it's priceless.

I might have mentioned this before, but last month I rotated off of the National Alzheimer's Association Early Stage Advisory Group. It was very rewarding and a lot of work. I didn't really realize how much I missed it until this week -- when I realized I don't get as many emails as I use to! Having fourteen other people on the board with me and dealing with all the wonderful folks at the national office, it seemed like every day I was getting an email from someone about some thing that needed to be tended to for the day -- or just a friendly hello from my peers. Although I know we all share that special bond of serving for a year we will remain friends and support each other through our trials and tribulations with Alzheimer's, it's just different now and I miss it. A new board has been chosen and I don't know who has been appointed to the board yet, other than two friends that have told me they have been selected. They will enjoy their time on the board. I'm still involved with one or two projects that are a carry over from the Early Stage Advisory Group, but they are now independent of the group. I guess it is nice to know that you are needed and you can possibly do something to help.

Ralph and I will be going to Atlanta on Wednesday to meet with Jennifer and Alan to work on some wedding details. It will be here before you know it. I keep trying my dress on hoping that the few pounds I have put on won't stop me from getting into it come August. I guess it is a real motivator!

I've also been trying to clean the house since we will have out of town company for the wedding. It's amazing the stuff that you keep around. Our Memory Walk committee is having a fund raiser yard sale in September so I am trying to keep the stuff around long enough to sell it -- but I don't have that much space.

Some friends are giving Jennifer and Alan a shower this weekend. It's so nice of them to do that. I know it will be nice.

I'm going to try to play golf again tomorrow. We'll see if I can make it around the course without falling down!

Odds and Ends

Every time I finish a post I think of something else to write. Then, I forget it the next time I post! Guess it goes with the terriroty!

Another promising drug for Alzheimer's that was in the final stages of clinical trials has failed to provide enough data to end up being marketed. Here is a link to the Alzheimer's website for more information. Last year, the same thing happened with another drug. We just need to keep trying. http://alz.org/news_and_events_13918.asp

I played golf yesterday and with my balance issues I wasn't sure I was going to do so well. But, I did o.k. -- however, I did use my pull cart and my golf club as a cane. I had a few moments when I thought I was going to fall but I didn't. I think I must look like someone who is drunk! Today, it seems to be a little better.

Jennifer and Alan are on the move from California. They had some car trouble yesterday so they had unexpected delay (and somewhat costly) but I told Alan on the phone that at least they were not in an accident and they are o.k -- even though they won't be home on the day they planned.

My nephew that just got married, passed his dissertation for his doctorate in child psychology last week. Congratulations Jonathan! I'm so proud of him -- he has worked really hard for this and will be working at a school district in upstate Illinois in the fall. It's nice to have a "Dr." in the family.

Hope everyone has a great Fourth of July -- at least for the Americans reading this blog.